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South Africa Government Position on Co-Sponsoring the United
Nations (UN) Resolution, passed on 26 January 2007, that condemned Holocaust Denial NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY FOR ORAL REPLY QUESTION NO: 127 PUBLISHED
IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO 14 OF 15 MAY 2007 MR D.H.M GIBSON (DA)
TO ASK THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: 1) Whether, with regard to the
United Nations (UN) resolution passed on 26 January 2007 that condemned Holocaust
denial, South Africa was requested to co-sponsor the resolution; if so, what was
South Africa's position in this regard;
2) Whether South Africa was present
in the UN General Assembly during the debate and the passing of this resolution;
if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? N924E REPLY: 1)
South Africa, on the basis of its unqualified abhorrence of the Holocaust and
its firm determination to help ensure that these events are never repeated, decided
from the outset to support the United Nations General Assembly resolution condemning
Holocaust Denial (A/RES/61/255). Israel and the US asked UN Member States, including
South Africa, whether they would consider co-sponsoring the resolution. As the
resolution was to be adopted by consensus, there was no need to co-sponsor it. 2)
South Africa was indeed represented at the meeting during which the resolution
was adopted. South Africa and many other countries were not represented for the
full duration of the meeting, as is the normal practice at the United Nations
when no vote is required. No political statement was intended by any period of
absence from the General Assembly hall and the Department deeply regrets that
misrepresentations and factual inaccuracies of the South African position are
being advanced in some quarters.
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